Improvement in window-blinds



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT VAN WAGENEN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN WINDOW-BLINDS(r Specification forming part of LettersPatent No. 4S,I [6, dated June 6, 1865.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT VAN WAGEN- EN. of Boston, in the county ofSuffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Window- Blinds; and I hereby declare t-hat the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a sectional view ofa blind con' structed in accordance with this my invention, the plane ofsection passing through the orices or sockets of the slats. Fig. 2 isanother sectional elevation of the same, the plane of section being atright angles to the former, and passing through the center of theillingstick S. Fig. 3 is a front elevation, and Fig. 4 a horizontalsection through the plane of section passing through the two sockets ofthe slat.

The object of this invention is twofold: first, the construction of ablind so as to admit of the ready removal of the slats withoutdlsmembering the frame; second, the adjustability ot' the slats andmaintaining them immovably in any position or at any given inclination.

I have accomplished the object of my invention by constructingwindow-blinds in the manner as follows: The frame A is made in the usualmanner, and consists of side and traverse pieces, which are unitedtogether' by tenon-andmortise joint. One of the side pieces, B, isprovided with the ordinary apertures or sockets for the insertiontherein of the pins or ends of the slats, while the other and oppositeside piece is composed of two pieces,being dividedalong the apertures-i.e., by a plane parallel to the face ofthe blind, but passing through theorifices or sockets of the slats. One of the pieces is made detachableor removable, while the other is permanently secured to the traversepieces, and constitutes part of the frame.

In the accompanying drawings, the removable portun, or filling stick, S,as Iternl it, extends in width to the depth of the sockets, so that buta small portion of the side piece is made removable. To remove the slatsfrom or replace them into the frame, it is only necessary to detach. thelling-stick, when the slats may be taken ont from or inserted into thesockets or apertures of the opposite side piece. The stick is held inplace by means of screws G or by any other equivalent means.

The advantages of this Inode of constructing window-blinds over thatheretofore in use consist in the ease and cheapness with. which repairsmay be made in the blind in case any of the slats become broken, alsowith which the same may be painted or cleaned. The slats,which areadjustable so as to admit of any given inclination upon their axes ofsuspension, are rendered immovable or fixed in any given position by aset-screw, C, provided on the outside, for convenience of operation,with a knob or handle. This set-screw is arranged to impinge upon athinmetallic ferrule, H, surrounding one of the pins or pivots of the slatsin its socket. By relieving the pressure on the ferrule by a slightturn, unscrew-` ing the set-screw, the slats become loose and free to beadjusted in any position desired. The adjustment being effected, it isrendered fixed by turning thescrew in the contrary direction, `wherebythe ferrule is compressed and caused to act like a brake on the pivot,preventing the slat from moving in either direction.

Having thus described my invention and the manner in whichV the same isor may be carried into effect, I claim-- 1. The method herein describedof constructing window-blinds so as to admit of the ready removal of theslats, in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

2. The method described of maintaining the slats of window-blinds atanyV given inclination with respect to the frame by the means and in themannerherein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification beforetwo subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT VAN VAGENEN.

Witnesses:

A. W. ADAMS, J. H. MUNROE.

